Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-01
Barreto' Brave Defense.
San Francisco Chronicle.


Among the passengers of the quaran
tined steamer Granada, which arrived in
port Friday, is Jose Lorenzo Barreto, of
Guadalupe, in the state of Sinaloa, Next
co, who shot and killed four men of the
bandit king, Eraclio Bernals band on the
Sd of June last. Meager details of the
attack on the isolated mining camp,
which BarretO defended bravely aad al
most alone, have reached the United
States. Barreto is part owner of the
Esaca gold mine, short distance from
Guadalupe. The night before Bernal
made his descent, Barreto and his pardner
Francisco Echeguren, brought from
Guadalupe $4,000 to pay off the men.
This money was placed in safe in the
company's store. Bernal became posses
sed of this information, and early next
morning Barreto, who slept in the store
near the safe. was awakened by demand
to open the door. He arose, and look
ing out through window, saw score of
armed men. He refused to open the
door, and was told he did so at the 7eril
of his life
One man, who was evidently one OF
BerHaPs lieutenants and leader of the
party, consulted with the rest, and gave
Barreto time to form plan of action.
He was alone against twenty or twenty
five men. The door was heavily barred,
the building was strong one, SO he de-
termined to resist, and resolved to sell
life dearly. Like all stores in that coun-
try the company's establishment was
we'll supplied with firearms. Barreto
collected all the rifles, pistols and am
ho
near the window. AS soon as he heard
the bandits hammering at the door with
the butt ends of their rifles he began fir
ing at them through the window.
The promlscuos reports of rifles and
pistols made the bandits believe that
they had been expected, and that the
store was well defended. Barretowasst there
fore Overjoyed when he saw them retreat
bearing with them several wounded, but
keeping up an indiscriminats fire at the
enemy concealed behind the window in
the store.
Escape was impossible. The band was
still in sight. but Barreto hoped that the
firing had awakened the miners and his
partners, who would form small army
and come to his rescue. The superin-
tendent of the mine and Barreto's part
ner, Echegurin, did try to rally the men,
but, fearing Bernal's wrath, even if they
with their lives, the latter re-
fused to proceed to the rescue. They
said that Bernal was sure sooner or later,
to return and would annihilate them ali.
Echegur1n and the superintendent fol
lowed the men into the mine, where they
sought safety.
Barreto who was anxiously awaiting
Developments in his improvised fortress
soon discovered to his utter dismay and
disgust that the heat of the bandit
leader was simply ruse to gain time, as
he was awaiting re-enforcements under
the leadership of the bandit king, Bernal
himself, and which arrived just as the
miners Echegurin, and the superinten-
dent were entering the mine. Barreto
saw from the window that Bernal, after
speedy consultation with his lieutenants,
had formed a plan. There was about $50
men IN all. One half of them immeadia-
tely opened fire on the window behing
which Barreto was concealed, while the
others proceeded to pound in the door,
which of course yielde.. Barreto in the
meantime had kept up continuous fire
killing four and wounding six men, him
entered the store at the head of the men.
He immediately had instituted search
for Barreto's companions, who he be-
heVed had secreted themselves. He re-
fused to believe until finally convinced
after personal Investigation, that it waS
Barreto alone who had resisted so brave
and killed four of his band
trembled, said Barreto III relateing
his story. II trembled lest he should, on
making this discovery, order me shot
down on the spot. His little sharp eyes
rested on me for a moment, aud then he
opened his lips to speak, to pronounce
my death sentance, I thought. "Where
is the money!" he asker CURLY, at the
same time glazing at the safe, and with
out waiting for my answer, he advanced
and examined the lock
1t was one of those old arrangements,
opened with key. He OWNED that |
had this in my pocket, and had me scar
'hed Finding it he opened the safe,